30 Rock actor Maulik Pancholy tells a group of students how, as an undergrad, he shied away from his cultural heritage. But all that changed when he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. Overnight, the one thing he had spent four years distancing himself from—his South Asian identity—became "the only thing that people saw in [him]." This is a heartfelt and very funny clip that shows off the deeply perceptive side of one of Hollywood's best young comic actors.

Maulik Pancholy stars on 30 Rock and Weeds and has appeared on various shows, including Law and Order and the Sopranos. Occasionally, he also gives keynotes at universities. Using his own career, he shows audiences just how far Hollywood has come in embracing diverse characters and story lines. How much has changed since his early days, when he was asked, constantly, to "do the accent." And what has caused this positive shift in the entertainment industry?

For speaking engagements, Maulik Pancholy is exclusively represented by The Lavin Agency.